When someone is arraigned, they appear in court to hear the criminal charges against them and enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. The word specifically describes this formal moment in the legal process when the accused person stands before a judge and responds to the accusations.

Arraignment is often the first time someone charged with a crime sees the inside of a courtroom. The judge reads the charges aloud, makes sure the defendant understands them, and asks how they plead. The judge might also set bail at this hearing: the amount of money the person must pay to stay out of jail while waiting for trial.

Being arraigned doesn't mean being found guilty. It's simply the procedural step where the legal system formally tells someone what they're accused of and gives them a chance to respond.